The Enugu State Government has called for institutional and curriculum reform in the health education sector to meet emerging relatives.

The Commissioner for Health in the state, Prof George Ugwu made the call in Enugu while delivering the keynote address at the 2026 Nigeria Association of Health Educators, NAHE, and Health Education Practitioners of Nigeria, HEPN, Annual National Conference held at the Enugu State University of Science and Technology, ESUT, in Thursday

With the theme “Reimagining Health Education: Building Resilient Systems, Empowering Healthy Nations,” Prof Ugwu and other stakeholders demanded urgent curriculum reform and stronger digital health literacy to address gaps in Nigeria’s public health delivery.

Delivering the keynote, Prof George Ugwu, who traced the shift in health education from the 1900s to the present and asked, “Who will educate the health educator?” He said older models must give way to new approaches. Citing data, he noted a projected 11 million global health workforce shortfall by 2030, 29 percent hypertension awareness, and that 46.08 percent of information during COVID-19 vaccination was tied to anti-vaccine conspiracy.

According to him, “misinformation weakened trust and turned digital literacy gaps into health literacy gaps.”

To address persistent burdens such as maternal and child mortality, malnutrition, and malaria, Prof. Ugwu proposed a framework that includes curriculum review, expansion of exponential learning, NUC accreditation for dual NCE and B.Sc Health Education, and national and state digital health literacy strategies. He also said cultural channels should be used without reinforcing harmful practices and urged Nigerians to monetize and prioritize their health rather than hold on to stereotypes about incurable illnesses.

Speaking on Enugu’s model, Prof. Ugwu said the state has deployed Type 2 Primary Health Centres across all 260 wards to create a stronger platform for community health education. He disclosed that the International Hospital Enugu is over 95 percent complete, a Coordinated Command Centre for outbreak response is in place, and investments at ESUTH Parklane and SUMAS will keep medical students in Nigeria. He added that ESUT Teaching Hospital produces 350 doctors annually, while Godfrey Okoye Teaching Hospital produces at least 50. He concluded that “health education is central to Nigeria’s health future” because investments only yield results when people understand, use, protect, and hold systems accountable.

The technical sessions followed immediately. In Lead Paper 1 titled “From Footnote to Foundation,” Dr. Ifeyinwa Ani-Osheku, Executive Secretary of EN-PHCDA, said the completion of health facilities in Enugu’s 260 wards has not translated to better outcomes because many citizens are unaware of the improvements. Using a descriptive account, she explained that lack of awareness often leads to avoidable deaths. She concluded that health education is the wire that carries trust and knowledge between the people and the health system.

Prof. Evelyn Nwagu, HOD, Human Kinetics and Health Education, UNN, presented Lead Paper 2 on “Health Education Curriculum Reform.” focusing on the need to revise textbooks, teaching methods, and training of health educators to match current realities.

The conference also marked a major academic milestone with the launch of the 26th Volume of the NAHE Journal, a 364-page publication. Prof. Adaramaja launched the journal, which received support from state chapters. Igwe Samuel and the Lagos State Chapter launched with N100,000 each; Edo, Gombe, and Delta chapters gave N50,000 each; and Bayelsa gave N40,000.

Dignitaries who graced the occasion include: Prof. Aloysius Michaels Okolie, ESUT Vice Chancellor, represented by Mr. Ambrose Ugwu, Registrar; Igwe Asadu; Igwe Umunnabike Ejim; and Prof. George Onyemaechi Ugwu, Honourable Commissioner for Health.

Also in attendance were Prof. Shehu Raheem Adaramaja, NAHE National President; Dr. S. N. Akorede, National Secretary and National Treasurer; Prof. Titus Owoh; Dean, Faculty of Education; Prof. Owoh, Dean, Postgraduate Studies Prof Charles Chime, among others

Delegates attended from Yobe, Rivers, Kwara, Ondo, Edo and other states.

Highlights of the conference was the conferment the highest Honour if the association, Fellow of NAHE on the President, Prof Shehu

The event concluded with a cultural dance by the Faculty of Education and a drama performance by the Department of Human Kinetics.

The post NAHE Annual Conference: Enugu State Govt. Calls for Health Education Reform appeared first on ESUT Monitor.

More than five years after Covid-19 ravaged the country’s economy and leading to many deaths, Nigeria has recorded a new case of the virus in Cross River State.

Speaking at a news conference in Calabar, on Tuesday, Dr Henry Ayuk, the state’s Commissioner for Health, said the case involved a Chinese national, who worked with Lafarge and flew into the country on March 17, before taking ill.

News AGency of Nigeria reports that the commissioner stated that the Chinese’ case became worse at the medical facility of his office and had to be taken to the University of Calabar Teaching Hospital (UCTH).

He explained that at the UCTH, his samples were taken and all protocols followed; it was subsequently confirmed that he had symptoms of COVID-19.

“We are, however, happy to report that he is doing well,” the commissioner said.

Ayuk asserted that the ministry of health had, however, been repositioned by the current administration, to handle and manage any situation – diseases or epidemic outbreaks.

According to him, unfortunately, there have been silent infections and clear cases from time to time.

“But we are determined that for every ailment, every disease or outbreak, if it is identified here in the state, there should be no alarm.

“The state will do well in terms of surveillance or containment of an outbreak. Whatever it is, we will do our best to contain it. So, there is no alarm.

“When this case was reported in about three or four days ago, we decided to be careful to confirm and ensure that the processes involved with identifying and confirming every case of COVID-19, are duly followed.

“The protocols have been followed and confirmed that a 53-year-old Chinese who work in Akamkpa Local Government Area of the state has COVID-19,” he said.

On her part, Dr Inyang Ekpenyong, State Epidemiologist, announced that in response to the case, the state emergency response unit had been activated.

She, however, noted that there was currently an ongoing contact tracing and line listing of those the Chinese may have been in contact with.

While noting the last case of confirmed case of COVID-19 in Cross River to be in 2022, the epidemiologist, however, feared that the Chinese may have contacted the virus here in Nigeria.

“The incubation period for this virus is usually between two to 14 days, but the Chinese flew into Nigeria from China on March 17 and started developing the symptoms on April 10.

“This is well beyond the 14 days incubation period. Like I said, we are doing the line listing of those he may have come in contact with, as part of our containment efforts.

“We have also activated the emergency response center and deployed rapid response teams to Akamkpa, where the victim works.

“There is no way we can stop this disease, but we can stop the disease outbreak.

“It will be wrong not to contain or manage it by ensuring that people do not die,” she stated.

Similarly, Dr Yewande Olatunde, the World Health Organisation (WHO) Coordinator in Cross River, stated that the disease was still around.

“We we must explore all preventive measures to protect ourselves.” she stressed.

NAN

The post Nigeria Records Fresh COVID-19 Case in Cross River State appeared first on ESUT Monitor.